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REYNOLnq H"^TORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION

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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

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H I S T O 3?l Y

OF TIIE

TOWN OF CORNWALL.

I

VERMONT,

BY REV. I.YMAN MATTIirrVVS.

"Te Tvho boast In your frre veins the blood of mes like these, Lo^« not their Uiieaiuents. Should Mammon cling Too close around y.>nr heart, or "wealth b^et Tb.-.t bloated luxury which eatri the core From aiHidy virtue, or the tempting world ir.ike faint the Christian's purpo.^e in your soul, Tuni ye to Plpnouth's boacb. and on that rock Kne»-! in thur footprint.;, and renew the vow Thcv bruitue<.I to God." Mrs. SIGO^B^■ET.

MIDDLKIUTIY:

y.CXU AND flLl.Klw K'/GISTEn HOOK AND JOB OFKICF..

ISO 2.

' ' v /■ ;,/ r 1 A

162890*

THIS VOLUME,

' Designed to commemorate the Sacrifices, the Successes and the ^'il•tues of the venerable Fathers atid .AEothere of Cornwall, and to note the Blcss- v.\^-< ivMvihv;^ from tho'i- I'^oivctist, is v\n<t respectfully iiiscribel to thoir Di'-cfnilanttv, rcsident and non-resident, by

Their servant,

The Author.

PREEACE.

Tlio tlo-^iri^ incroA^inuly manliest in many commnnitiLV. especially in

:> w Kncrlmi'l, lo ix\<cnc from t!ic ravages of time tlie incidents of our

'v hi-toiy, anil so to embody them as to secure tlicir preservation,

.i-ViS commendntion and flavor. 'Jlie settlement of \'ermont was

■.luae.ncefl at so late a date, tliat in some towns a few of the earliest

:: I. .-rs survive, and many of their chil.h-en may be found, who, with

„!:tive memories, love to recount the exploits of tlieir sires, and to pa^s

'•oview the cl^anges occasioned by tlic lapse of time tlie u)iavoidal)lc

r.comitants of a period of transition.

'.rhe :\rii>DixnL-in' Historical Socikti- several years since, announced ihc purpose of securing. If po-^ible, an authentic hi>tory vi^ each town \n . Ad..ii>on County. In accordance with this purpose, liun. S.nauel Swift. , ha^ a.lrcady prepared that of INliddlebury, with a brief historical sketch I of ihe County; John BL Weeks, .Esq., that of SalLsbury, imd llev. I .Tu/iah F. Goodhue and others, tliat of Shoreham. 'Jliese works arc \ n.lread.y before the public. Li this volume an attempt has been made to ■^ add to the scries the History of Cornwall.

\ h is v/ell that these compilations ha\c been prepared so soon. It

^ vsoul.l be weU th.at the history of the other towns >hould be no longer

<lelaycd. The facts and reminL-cences which make up our cru-ly hi-tory

are vap"dly passing beyond the reach of recover}', as tlic a(;tors m I'a-t

"^ scenes, and those most intimate with tb.cm, have closed and are clo.-uis

^ tlieir earthly career. It is obvious that it would have been caMCf t.-r the

vitei-s, and more satistactoiy to both writei-s and readers, if these works

-.M have been commenced still earlier, as some incidents which would

VI PREFACE.

be of pcrmnucnt interest, arc already lost. Happily, licv-ever, wc occn jiy the homes once ocoupici by tlio fi^thers, and tlieu' cliUdren and chil- dren's chUdrcn retain enough of their hlstoiy to ilhistrate iheir characte: and pei'jv^tuate their virtues.

In gathering; tlie materials for this volume, reliance hri.s l»oen placci.i ^fiJ'Sf, upon the Records of the Orlgiivil Grantees, or IViiprietors of tlic township, and on the Records of the town,v>-]uch, from it.-^. organization, are in perfect preserv'ation. Reliance hasbee]i placed seccoiclhi, upon convci-sa- tions v;itlx veiy aged persons, who came, in childhood, with their parents, or whose birth occuiTcd some yeai-s anterior to the present century, so that they 'listinctly remember things us they ■v\'ere in the beginning. I liave recorded several reminiscences on the authority of ti-adition, which is an invaluable source of historical information, provided, as in this ca.=c, it is not too remote from the -scenes and actors it describes. I wiil add, I have recorded some incidents suggested by my own obsenation, duricg a residence, mostly in this town, of more tlian half a century.

Tl^e Chapters on the "Location of Settloi-s," though they rnay seem to promise to the reader only a dry detail of names, will, I hope, be found among the most entertaining of the volume, being interspersed witi i such incidents, reminiscences and anecdotes, as I have been able to collect I'espectlag the persons mentioned.

It Ls but a merited tribute to the citizens of Cornwall, to record in X.\ns place, that the publication of this Volume Las been secured by a gener- ous appropriation from the toxMi Treasury, in the midst of unparalleled burdens of taxation for town, state and national purposes.

I take pleasure, also, in adding that tlie illu.strations have been gratui- tously funiLshed by liberal friends thus enhancing the value of the book, without cost to tlie reader.

The work delayed beyond his intentions, by the ill health of the ^^Titer, i^ offered with the hope that it may pru\ o a source of entertainment ta those v/lio feel an interest in Cornwall, and thus contribute at least to their enjoyment. L. Matthews.

Cornn-aU. Sqyttmba- 20, 18G2-

CONTENTS,

CHAPTER I. Irstrotluctoiy, ^ '-'

ClIAPTKll n. CoTitrover?y behveea Xew York and New namp=hu-e respecting '-tlie New llampsliire Grants," ^^

cnAFiKK in.

Charter, with the names of tlie Original rropriotor?, or Grantees Flan of the to\\7i: Bouiidarie-s, - 1

CIIAFTER IV. Organization of the Proprietors Division of the lanrls by '-pitcues" -•Quieting act" Proprietors' Records Lidetiuiteness of Deed.s and Conveyance- Land Survey.-, «^'-'

CIIAI'ITR Y.

Settlers before the RevohitiMnary ^Var : El-lad Andrus, Samuel Clodget, Sardiii3 Blclget, Solomon Lm.-Ioy, Aaron Scott, Nathan Foot, JoUa llolley, Ebcnezer Stebbins, Joel Lini-lcy, Obadiah "Wheeler, Jonah S:;nfor<l, James INIai-sh Douglass Retirement of Settlei-s, 13

CHM^ER Vr.

Return of Settlers Immigrants after the War, and their Locations Orange Tliroop Samuel Ingraham imd ^Matihcw Lewi- Ethan An- (irus Sons of Nathan Foot Samuel Bartholonu'.w, 51

VIII

COInIBNIS

I

V.

CHAlTEli VIT. I]

Locritloii of Sctiicrs. EiriaU Dnrfoy Eliyha Tfuvlbui Tlionias rritcli- \i iu-j Jaiuos Lane- Thomas Tolinan, !lr.-l settl-xl ilinlstor ^Samuel ^ Bonlon Joreniiah liucWcil David rarklU Jolm Jvobbin^ Alii-a- ^ ham J?aloom ;^tcphcn lloiley A.-a "Woodward Calvin Tildcu a Luther Tildeu— Wm. liaxtor—David Daggott— Isiiac Kellogg— i Abial l>ogors, Abial Lirusloj Lemuel reel Daniel liichardfon M .Stoplicn Tambliijg-^Iiaiuh Gill-ert— Lemiio! Tumbling, 50 g

CIlArTEK VIII. Location of Settlers contirniod Wm. Sladc. Je,-sc Chipinau Jame? and Xal'uau Caui]ibell Dr. Solomon Foot Uenj. Stcvcn> "Wait an'l Timothy Squier holomou I'lunib Shadvacli Xorton Bcr.j. Hall liarzilkd Stickney Daniel and Ezra Scovel Jame? 'NE. Dougla>= and hh Son^— Eliakim IMalloiy— Elisha Eield, Sen.— Deaf Amabel Field ^Eli^ha Field; Jr. Ebenezer Newell l-vichard Miner Harvey IJell, OS

ClIAFTER IX.

Location of Settlers continued David Nutting— Israel C. Janes Dea. Horace Janes rBezalcel I'lchardson Nathan and AbLsha Dehu-iO I>cmuel Ciiapman ^Vm. I'eck licabeu I'eek -Tohn Ballard Kivc- riuij NewtU Uenj. IJecve— 'Wai( "Woo.ster— .-Eli Stone Daniel Sam- .son Jacob Peck Cory Mead Reuben IVuigham— Benj. Sanford Dea. James Barker Nathaniel Cog"«well Isaac Hull Joshua Stock- well Nathaniel Bhiucliaid Joseph Cogswell Abljah DavL:^— IMat- thew Parker Stephen A. Tanibling Boswoll l.'ost B>enj. Atwood Sanborn Bean \Vm. Samson Ebenezer Squier Hcmy Cliub-

David S['oriy, 77

CHAi'TEIi X.

Location of Settlers continued— -rDanl Sperry rTacob LIn;h', Sen. Ivinnc Inittcu ^^Vait Woosler Simeon Sanford Dea. Amzi Junes Jared Tves Enus Ives David Pratt John IJockwcll Ezra and Isaac INlead Jacob Ingi-aham Nathan Jackson IJufus ^lead; Siht* Mead David. Tngraluim Da\id Foot, Sen. and Son& "Wm. Dwhmcll Closes ^Voo.-tcr Gen. Somcrs Gulc Zebulon Jones Simeon I'o'vers Wardiam Brown Ephrani Pratt IMatthew Lev.'l- Samuel KlL-hard.-', Sen. Al>el Pratt IJoger Avery Amos Pen- iiovcr. 8S

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CONTENTS. IX

CliAVTER XI.

tcIi.F i^.cation of Settlors conlinued Zacluinah Bonodict-— T^fiac rarkcr— - lu..'! Solomon Limloy Adonljali nnd ^Vul. KcUog;^— Kliplialet Siunson— >!•".- 1 Gon. Jojcpli Cook Gen. Cbauucty Cook Felix Benton and An- »— f cli-cnv Benton Fretl. Fro-st, Sen. Abi-aliani AViUuim^cn Zachnviali ;— J ,lolin<on "NN'alker Linsly— Thomas Lanclon an'.l lii.-< Son I?aac ;Mo:-cs

i- Pratt— "William ^b-tluir Stii-Ung— Jcdeiliali Durfey Horace T..r.iu.lon 59 Win. Lane- ; hU death by accident Titus Fenn Xathan Felte—

I Ephraim Ai\di-n? Judd Enos ^.lorgan John lv:tll.< ; V.i.s dvath hy I acci<lont, ^^ ^

(1 I CIIAFTEK Xn.

- l ].ocatiou of Settle!-? continued— .Tared Aboj-nathy— C}tus Abomathy— ' \ Dr. Frederic Ford, Sen.— INfoscs Goodrich— -labez ^^■atI•oa^— IIov. ' i ik-njamia Wooster— Ileniy Daggot and Al)bott Tanibling— Saw-null

I .John C^ilnian Daniel Hunting-ton old road v^ost from F. F..

; ^Va^ner"s David Seymour— Truman ^Vheelor Cornelius Datcher

, Benjamui, Joseph and Jnhi\ Hamlin— IMiillp ^Varner "Four hun-

j dred acre lot" of Samuel Benton— Water power— Grist and saw-mill

I of l^avid Pratt Various attempts to u.sc the I'.eavcr Brook as a mo-

live po'.ver— Levi Speny— Thomas Hall— Xathan and Pitts Ingra-

t [ ham— John Boynton— .Jeremiah Bingham, 2nd— Hon. IliUmd Hull

\ { —Reuben Bhigham— Enxstus Hathcway— Aaron Delong— Dca. Jcre-

1 I niiali Bingham and Sons, ^''^^

^,t> CHAPTER Xlil.

Ih'ganization of the Town Utiicers of the lh>t Town iMeeting OQicers not now chosen Deer Rifts or Reeves ]>randers of Horses ; Legis- lation on ilic subject Tythiug 3Icn Chori>tei-s Founds and Potind Keepci-s List of Town Ollieci-s from the beginning HO

CHAPTER XIV. .Annt.-xalion of part of Cornwall to 3IidilK-bury Probable reasons. . .100

CHAPTER XV. R.eligious History Eariy arr:ing<'ments respectint Kdigious Woi-ship First Revival— Organization of the Congregational Chr.rch— Articles of Faith, Rules and Order of Discipline Settlement of Mr. Tvlmau Action respecting a Meeting-House Fir.~t Hou-e of ^Vo^■^ilip Dis- mi~-iou of Mi-. Tolman. . ^^'^

if

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CHAl^IER XVI. I !

Religious History continued Controversy respecting location of MeetLn.';_ House Settlt^nieut of Kcv. ]ioajAVoo5ter ; his ministiy and cliaracter:' i his connection with the army at I'lattsbiu'gh l-l-'

CHAPTER XVII. . ,

Religious History continued Formation of Congi-egational Society Its | j

Principles of Union SettlerQeut of Mr. Bushnell ; his ministry an-] ' ]

character ' 1G4 .

CHATTLR XVm. ' \

Religious History continued Building of Yestiy or Lecture Room -x .

Settlement oi Lai.^>on Miner— Jacob Scales— S. W. Magill— G. W. \ j

Noyes— J. A. Bent— A. A. Baker— Lay Ofl'icci-s of the Church. .180 ' \

CHAPTER XIX. \ ;

Religious History continued I'orraation of Baptist Church Its fii-st : 1

place of meeting and fu-?t Pastor, Elder Ephraim Sawyer Building \ \

its Meeting House, a L'nion House Conditions of the Union Eldei"S '■ 1

>;, i

Henry Green, Beriah N. Leach and others Recent measures for ■; '

% } re-builduig Deacons the Methodist Church Its House of "N^'orship, i .

Pastoi-s and Supplies Free Chmxh Its Organization, Confession of : ] Faith, and Rules of Discipline I'astors, W. B. Raiisom,' Israel ;

Hutchinson, C- B. Campbell imd others 191 i

CHAPTER XX. Professional Men of Cornwall ]Martiri I'ost, Escp I'racticing Phpic- ians, Nathan Foot Frederick Ford Son. and Jun. Solomon Foot Abram Fleming Ilosea Brooks Rodolphus Field Oliver J. Eel Is- R. G. Greene C. B. Ciurier Ihomus P. ^Matthews M. O. Porter E. 0. Porter Diuius Matthews, 203

CLLVPTER XXL -.

Educational Schools Fu-st Divibiou of School Districts School lan.ls f. Superiuteu<ling School C<»mmittce Appropriation of Sui-plus Fumls for Schools School Houses '■ Old Ived" School House '• Brick '' School House Changes in Districts School Superintendents Select School; 213 ^

CHAI'TEJ; XXH. . ^

Educational Young Gentlemen's Society ; Constitution and Rules , Meetings In'^orpoT-atlon Library Lane Library Association ; its 'r

'if'

5 ; f C0>'TENT3. XI

! I Con^iWiJtion nna Libvan' 220

^H ciLu^TER xxm.

cfe''

i , JiNulhes of Cornwall vvba have entered the rrofefsion^ Clergymen, . . 220

' I CITAmTK XXIV.

!,. I Natives of Cornwall who have entered tho Professions La^yci-s. . . .213

ini CHAPTER XXV.

164 Natives of Cornwall who have entered the Professions Pliysicians I I Teachers Editors Tliosc in other employments List of Grad- i nates 271

y,^ ClIAPTEK XX^a.

Jo| Population Tlic first male child born in Town ^"Thc fuT^t deaths by acciclont, and by disease Longevity of the fii"st settlers Census at uilfcrcnt period' ^Vhy no increase ? 278

H

CILVPTER XXVIL s F Record of families settled previously to ISOO 283

f I CHAPTER XX\Tn.

* I Care cf the p(X)r IMode of provision Statistics of Property Lists

j * Decimal Currency, when fu-st used Taxes for roads, and otlier

' j^ specilic objects 291

CHAI^EP. XXEv. . . Highways-Bridges, etc, 29S

\ cnAPTv:R XXX.

t Mi-<"ellaneous Places for holding Town iNIeetings Toiati sign post

I «, i;ur}ing Grounds Keeping Saturday cvcuing, etc. Compensation

! i for services rendered to the town Post Offices' Postma-stei-s— Cave i * ^ _

! ' of Mi-g. Story Indian relics, '. 30o

i i

-^v CHAPTER XXXI.

! i Social Character and Spirit of the Settlers Usages of the people in

I ^ choice of Town Officers Representatives Selectmen Haywaixls

^ ; I: toQiporance ; its victims, 3 1 i

W CHAHTER XXXII.

y Surface of the Town— Soil Productions ^lincrals Marble Building L >tonc Slate— INI incrid Springs Quahties of tlie water generally, .310

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,o:

XII C0NIE>-T3. ^ f 1

CllArXEK XXXllI. \

Pui-suits of the People, cliie% agricultuml l.i>t of inccliamc.- Lac",; :

of Water Tower 3Iills IMerchanf? Chniigc from AgricuUta-al u "^ j

other piir?uit- lloi-sos ,Shee]> "Coimvali finish," 321 > 1

CHAPTER XXXIV. I i

Changes In the hnhit? and usages of the people Mode* of locomotion— | i l?idiuq on horseback universal Piding "douUc," or two on a lioi-so— ^ | I'bc pillion and saddle-bags How mothers used to travel with tlicu' ;^ ' childi-en ^Materials and modes of dress Furniture of the dwelling '► : and tabic Husking and other '-bccR" Itinerant shoe-makei-s modes ^ of vv-.irmiig Intioduciion of labor-saving machiner)- Changes af- \ . fectuig moral chai-acter and habits -'Young America," Sol \ \

CIIAPTEP XXXY. 5 '.

,Ser\ ices of Settlers who belonged to the Pevolutionary army Training= i AVaking up Oflicers CitLcons who did service in the war of ]S12

^\'oIunteers in the wai- of the (ireat Pcbelliou, a. 341 'i

^

ILLUSTPvATIONS.

Tlic portrait of Jonah Sanford, 83

" Nathan EelLs, 101

" O. J. Eclls, 209 ^

" Hon. Solomon Foot, 24

'• Gov-Slade, 259

" Jonathan Fojc. -72

View of School House X'o. 2, 217

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HTSTOrxY OF C0IIN\VA

CIIAT'TER I.

" They nocJ No statue nor iu^oriptioii, to ic\eal Their greatness "

Communicies luive been ^vo!lt, in every age. to trace tl.eir origin ^1 to ancestors shrouaed in inythologic mystery, to those distin- guished for physical prowess, or for intellectua] or nior.-.l cxcellonce. The Hindoo believes himself nn emanation from Braina. The I Roman was proud of his connection with the nurslings of a woif. If The Hebrew gkrics in his descent from the "Father of the Faithful." The people of Xow England over love to trace their origin to the noble band who landed from the May Flower, and others of l:ir;drod spirit who subse^iuently sought v.n asylum on th.esc shores. History tells us of no men of more unflinching courage^ of sterner prin- ' ciples, of more varied excellence.

'To understand the movements of the Puritans, it is necessary to - understand their character. Though they endured, with forbear- ^^ ance. the oppression of despotic monarchs : the abuse and persecu- tion of a supercilious hierarchy ; the disfranchisement of them- selves and their families, they suffered not in slavish fear, or ignorance ; nor wilhoui a. determination, at a proper timu to rebuke their oppressors and assert their rights.

" The Puritans who had fled to Holland, to avoid intolerance at home," says an English reviewer, " carried with them English liearcs They could not bear to think that their little community

11

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14 nisTORY OF co^.N^^ALL. { .

country and their mothci' tongue, and nitlier tliau tlicir children l ] should become subjects! of another ?lute. and speak another Ian- | 1 guage. they exposed themselves to all the hardsliipa and dangers of | 1 colonizing in a savage land. Life to them had little value without | civil and religious freedom, to secure' Y;hich their compact -was } \ formed, even before their feet touched An-'.crican soil. Ko people t on earth may so justly pride themselves on their ancestors, as the j 2s ew Englanders." [

TiiO circumstances in which the first settlers of New England '^^ were placed, nurtured courage, wariness and Felf-reliance. There ^^ was the insidious savage, who, viewing the settler as an intruder, | was ever readj^ to take advantage of any remission of his watchful- i_ ness, for a covert assault. Upon his own vigilance and prowess .; depended the safety of himself and those he loved. I'pon his own *■ energy depended his supply of food and raiment. His fellow- I" settlers vrero as destitute of resources as himself, and they were | all too widely separated from kindred and friends, to expect relief | | in any erdergenc3\ In view, therefore, of the fact, too well |_| attested to require discussion, that men are furmeil by the circum- » | .-tances in which they arc called to act, it is not surprising that our ^ 1 ancestors were hardy, fearless and enterprising. Without those ^^ characteristics, the colony must speedily have become extinct. ^

As these settlements extended into the interior, each became the Ji nucleus of a community pledged to live free or die. The spiris ' ; of these settlers was eften well exhibited in the homely but ex- r pressive stanzas of their own poets : ' f

" Our worthy forefathers, (lefs give them a cheer !)" * To climates unknown did courageously steer ;

Through oceans to deserts for freedom they came, A

And, dyinc:, bcaueathed us their fret'Iom and fame. ^

" Their generous bosoms all dangers despised.

So highly, so widely, their birthrights they prized.

What tliey g^ve let us cherish and piously keep, . Nor fi-ustratc their toih on the land or the deep."

7'hc PuliifCi Aj'j"a'.

I HISTORY or CORNV.Al.L. 15

As car] J as IGOO, that part of Yerniont borOcrlng on Lake Ciiamplain, •s\-as to some extent explored bj a French adventurer, p. Tvhose name the Lake bears ; but no permanent settlement in this i |- part of the State was made for more than a century after-\vard. The f i position of the territory vas such as to prevent its safe occupancy by settlers. '* Situated between the settlements of the Prench on one hand, and those of the English on the other, it was constantly exposed to the invasions and depredations of both, in the almost incessant warfare maintained between them. The dense forests of the Green Mountains were tlie favorite lurking places of the wield- ers of the tomahawk, and resounded with the war-whoop of sav- ages, Avho were willing to become allies of either of the contending parties. They were traversed by prisoners taken in the French wars, and were witnesses of iheir heroism, and of their suiferinirs."' Previous to ITGO, the territory vras almost an unbroken wilder- ness. A few settlements existed in the extreme sourhern part, though vrith but few inhabitants. The territory was Aften passed over by parties of Continental soldiers, on their way to and from Lake Champlain. who were attracted by its beauty and fertility. Ihis accounts for the- rapidity with which settlers gathe^'d from all •'[uarters, as soon as a safe way was opened before them, r.etweon the years 1700 and 17(3-1, most of the towns in the State received their clsarters from the Governor of Xew Hampshire.

I

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16

HISTORY OF CORNWALL.

1!

CHAPTER II.

CtOii'KOVLnCY BETWEEN XEW YORK AND NEW HAMPSnir»E RESPECTING "THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.''

A eontroveisy betwoen New York aiid New Ilampsljire respect- ing jurisJictioii over the terri^orj now known as Vei*mont, com- menced in 1749, and continued through many years. This was as unfriendly to the quiet of settlers, if not as perilous to their per- fcions, as tlieir previous exnosare to French and Lidian hostility. Thouizli this controversy has no more relation to the history of

CD •/ V

Cornwall, than to most of the other towns in the vrestern portion of the State, a brief skt- rch of it may bo interesting to many readers. New York claimed jurisdiction under a Charter granted by Charles II to the Duke of York, from which the following is an extract :

^' Chaeles the Second,

By th'2 [:race of GoJ. King of EnghimL ScollanJ, Francn and Ireland^ Defender of I he Faith, ^'c. S^'c. To all to WII03I these presents shall come.

Greeting :

Know ye, That we, for divers good causes and considerations, have, of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, given and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do frive and jirant unto our dearest brother, James. Duke of York, his heirs and assigns, all that part of the main land of New England, beginning at a certain place, called or known by the name of St. Croix, next adjoining to New Scotland, in Amer- ica; and from thence extending aloTig.the sea-coast, unto a certain phiec culled Petuaguine or Pemaquid, and so up the river thereof to the furtherest head of the same, as it tendeth northwards : and

f

>1

': HISTORY or CORNWALL. 17

; i :-.\unvlliig from the ri\er .Tvincbc!|ue, and so upwards l)y tlie short- [f t ri course of the river Canada, northwards ; and all that island or If i. -lauds, commonly called by the several name or names of Mato- \h ','-:icks or Long Island, situate and being -west of Capo Cod, and the [I N::rrow Highgansetts. abutting upon the main land, between the [| tv,-o rivers there, called or known by the several names of Counec- \\ tic'it and Hud;on"s River, together, also, with the said river called ft Hudson's, and all the lands from the west side of Connecticut river, j| to the cast side of Delaware Bay : x^lso, all those several islands, j| oalk'd or known by toe names of Martin's Vineyard and Nantuckos, ^1 <.t!;erway3 Nantucket: together with all, &c. Dated the 2"Jth day \( of June, in tlie twenty-sixth year of the'rcign of King Ciiaulus t the Second."'

t It is not surprising that the utmost indefiniteness and confusion

i s!;ould have existed in reference to boundaries in the charters, and

I to other documents relating to tlie territory known as New ITump-

r shive Grants, included in the above Charter. The patent above

(uoted indicates a degree of ignorance of the Geography of the

:ountry in those who indited it, \Yhich at that period was perhaps

ll excusable, but v/hich was utterly inconsistent with the peace of the

h so\cral colonial governments then acknowledged as having existence

U in New England and New York. Evidently tlie Monarch *and his

|| councils knew not what they were doing, if, indeed, they knew

r/ what they had already done in granting Charters to the New Eng-

?| land colonies. Of this confusion Gov. "Wentrrorth avails himself

% in his proclamation in 1764, in which he says : '• Persons huld-

f- ing grants of lands or Charters from New Hampshire, may be

I J 'ssured that tho patent to the Duke of York is obsolete, and cannot

l-\ convey any certain boundary to New York, that can be claimed as

, a boundary, as plainly appears by the several boundary lines of the

■Tersies on the west : and the colony of Connecticut on the east,

Vihich arc set forih as part, onh', of the land indicated in the said

r ._■■ patent to the Duke of York." The boundary of Connecticut and

I Massachusetts on the -west reached to within twenty miles of Ilud-

j son River, and the Governor of New Hampshire inferred that bis

I ovrn jurisdiction extended westward to the saMo meridian. Acting

't

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18 lilSXOHY OF CORKWAI.L. I !

on this inference, Gov. Wentworth prrantcd Charters to those who f i applied. as far vrestward as this bouiidaryjSO far as the Hudson River ? | extends, and northward of that point to the shore of Lake v j ChaiQplain. f j

"Whatever may have been the feelings of the first settlers of f i Vermont in regard to the authority of New York, it is. certain | 1 that they early became disposed to ackuovrledge that of New Hamp- V < shire, for they soii;^ht and obtained their Cl)arte}>: frora that [ ! | source. They appear. hov\-ever, to have cared but little v^hich gov- ernment exercised jurisdiction over them, provided they vrere made ; , secure in iiie enjoyment of their rights. Eut they could not well | 1 render allegiance to botli. and as neither had power to enforce its f 1 j la^Y3. or protect the settlers, necessity was laid upon them to pro- j , tect themselves, and they declared themselves independent of both. ' '• In thus assuming to govern themselves, they only followed the dictate of nece=:ity nature's first law.

The following declaration of the rights of the people, and of their independence, was adopted by a convention of delegates, without . a dissenting vote.* \

'•Eigiitlst. That whenever protection is withheld, no ailegi- l ancc is dne. or can of right be demanded.

" 2nd. That whenever the lives and properties of a part of a community have been manifestly aimed at by either the legislative « , or executive authority of such community, necessity requires a separation. We arc of opinion that the foregoing has, for many years past, been the conduct of the monopolizing land clairaors of the colony of Xew York ; and that they have been not only coun- tenanced, but encouragcil. by both the legislative and executive authorities of the said State or colony. Many overt acts in evi- dence of this truth, are so fresh in the minds of the members, that

it would bo needless to name tliem. " Considering ^

that a ju..t right exists in this people to adopt measures for their own security, not only to enable them to secure their right against the usurpations of Great Lritain, but also, against those of New

*S!a'.ie'i Vermont State P;ipers p. CO. 1*1 i

i

I HISTORY OF CORNWALL. 10

r't Vork, and the several otlior governments claiming jurisdiction iu r- * uiis torritory ;

J r "This Convention, "svhoso meraber.-- are duly choion by tlio free t f voice of their constituents in the scveril towns, on tho New llamp- 51 1 -hire Grants, in public meeting assembled, in our own names, and D i i:i behalf of our constituents, do hereby proclaim and publicly

* •leclare, that the district of territory, comprehending and usually t I known by the name and description of tiie Xew Hampshire Grants.

of right ought to be, and is hereby declared forever licrcafrer to be ' ' considered, as a free and independent jurisdiction, or state; by the [ name, and, forever Lereai'ier to be called, known, and distinguished

* hy the name of iNcw-Connecticut, alias Vermont : and that the inhabitants that at present are, or that may hereafter become rcsi- d.-'nt, either by procreation or immigration. within said territory.&hall be entitled to the same privileges, immunities, and enfranchise- ments, as are allowed : and on such condition, and in the same manner, as the present inhabitants in future sliall, or may enjoy : which are, and forever shall be considered to be such privileges and immunities to the free citizens and denizens, as are. or at any time

f hereafter, may be allowed, to any such inhabitants of any of tlie free and independent States of America : and tiiat such [)riviliges [ I and immunities shall be regulated in d bill of rights, and by a form j * of (Tovernraent, to be established at the next adjoumed session j"| '.'f this convention."'

It would not bo expected that the pioneers in a region thus sit- ti-itcd would be timid men, or that many timid men wouhl be found among their number. The timid would naturally prefer 1-^. •I'lodes rendered secure by the presence of a more dense population. K w- Tiie actual settlers were men whom no obstacles could discourafre : I ii> disappointment could dishearten : no perils could intimidate. Allen and Baker and \\'arner, and Fay and Fasset and Chitten- •Ivn were only representatives of the community to which they belonged. Tliey differed not from their compatriots in the spirit '.hey cherished. They differed only in being assigned to posts of ::voater prominence and infiuence. Tiiose who desired them t*? •ad were ever readv io follow.

{.

I,

20 HISTOllY OF CORNWALL.

IJn'o community ^vas over move deeply impvessed \-li\i the indi-:- pcnsablenes; of law : and owning no power as uutborizod to dictait; laws totliem. thoy were a law unto themselves. Their feelings were aptly expressed by one of their poets, some of whose stanzas have already been ouoted.

" We owe no allegiance ; wo Vw to no tkrcne: i

Oi;r ruler is la^v, ami the law is our own

Our Icalcrs themselves are our own fellow-men,

"Who can handle the sword, and the scythe, and the jicn. V

•' Our? are the raountai: s which awfully rise j

Till t!iey rest their green heads on tlic blue of the fckies. i And oi'.rs arc the forest?, un wasted, unshorn

Save where the wild path of the tempest is torn. |

" Thcujrh Tviatry and cold bo this climate of ours, [ ]

And brief be our seasons of fruits and of flowers; ;•, j

Far dearer the blast round our mountains ■whicli raves; r 1

Than the s^weet sumtner zepiiyr which hrcathca over slave?. }

" Come York, or come Hampshire come traitors and knaves, |

If ye rule o'er our laud, ye shiill rule o'er our graves; '

Our vow is recorded our banner unfurled ; In the uau'.e jf Vermont, wo defy nil the world.'^ <

Of these raen Gen. Burgoyno, when inditing a dispatch to the British Governraont, after the buttle of J3ennino;tou vrrites :'

•' The Hampshire Grants in particular, a country unpeopled, and almost unknown in the French war, now abounds in the most active and rebellious race on the Continent, and hansrs like a uath- oring storm on my left."'

KISIOEY OF COIl^'^\'ALL. 21

CHAPTER IIL

CHARTER, WITH THE NAMES OF THH OUHJINAL PPvOPIUETOR?, OR GKANTEES PLAN OF THE TOWN BOUNDARIES.

The original Proprietors of the township of Cornwall; were mostly, probably wholly residents of Litchfield County, Connecti- cut. Their names are endorsed on the bad: of the Charter, ^vllicll is still preserved among the archives of the town, in a legible but dilapidated condition. This document has been kept v^ith commend- able solicitude, though by oft repeated e.xjtminations, by f jlding and refolding, it has become divided into numerous portions, like the lands to which it secures a title. On tlic Pecords both of the Pro- prietors and of the town was entered an early transcript of the names of the Grantees, lest by the destruction of the original, they should be irretrievably lost. The names read as follows :

NAMES OF GRANTEES:

Mr. Elias Reed, Samuel Chipman,

Thomas Chtpnan, Thomas Tuttlc,

Murry Lester, Jabez Tuttle,

Samuel Lw, John Skinner,

Josiah Hoatli, Samuel Huibur<l,

James Nichols, Huunuh Auitiu,

Jo3iah Dcau, Ruluff White,

'> i^j-,r:

22

HISTORY OF COR^'WALL,

ELcnczor Fletcher, S:;muel Keep, Reswell Steel, Alexander Gaston, George Nichols, AV illiam Nichols, John Ju;M, Timothy Brownson, Solomon Linsley, Andrew Es'-iuLi-e, Moses Buck, David Cowles, Moses Read the 3 J, Zuricl Ji;cob3. "VVni. Trumbull, Stephen Benton, Sarah Nichols, ^

Bonj. Smallcy, John Willoby, Joel Ree<:l, Josepli Williams, James Nichols, Jun , Enoch Slawsou, Phiuehaa Ilokloom, Jos'iih Y^'illobj

Isaac Benton.

David A'.ovili} Aaos Chipman, Ja> cz William.?, Jamci" Smith, Acdre'iV Brownsou, )

John Scovill, i

Samuel J add, Eleanor Smith, Benj. Woodruff, Jonah Saudford, William Reed, Nathan Beaton, Abiel LiTisley, JohJi Everts, James Landon, Esq., James Landon Jun ,

Ezckicl Landon,

Thoma? Landon,

John Hutchinson, Esq ,

William Ham,

David Reed,

David Stevens,

Richard Wiberd, Es-j.,

Jo.scph Ncwraarch, Esq.,

Samuel Ectlicc,

,• one ri'Tht.

t 1

M

Though the Chavrer granted to these persons, was the same in form, boundaries excepted, as those i.<sued to the other towns iu the vicinity, it may bo interesting to those not conversant "with such documents, to have the oppovtunity of perusing it. I therefore coiy it in fulh

CHAIITEII.

PROVIXCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

^ Geop.ge the Third,

Jly the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland. King, Defender of the Faith, ij'c. To ALL PERSONS TO WHOM THESE PRE.-ENT3 SHALL COME,

G reefing : Know te^ That we of our special grace, certain knowledge and

1

I

i ntSTORY OF COUNV.-ALL. 23

I -jiere motion, for tlie due encourngcment of settling a now Planta-

I tioii within our said Province, bj and with the advico of our trusty

.lud ivc'll beloved l^enning Wcntworth, Esq., our Governor, and

Commandor-in-Cliicf of our said Province of Ke^Y Hampshire, in

New England, and of our Council of tiie said Province ; Have,

u upon the conditions and reservations herein after niade, given and

f, I granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do I give and grant in equal shares unto our loving subjects, inhabitants of our said Province of New Hampshire, and our other Govcrn- ments, and to tbeir heirs and assigns forever, whose names arc entered on this Grant, to be diviilcd to and amon^'sfc them, into seventy equal shares, all that tract or parcel of land situate, lying and being within our said Province of New Hampshire, containing hj admeasurement, about 25000 acres, •^vhich tract is to coritain something more than six miles s<iuare, and no more : out of which an allowanco is to I e made for Highways, and unimprovalde lands by rocks, ponds, mountains and rivers, one thousand and forty

h acres free, according to a jilan and survey thereof made by our said Governor's order, and returned into the secretary's ofucc, and licre- unto annexed : buitod and bounded as follows, viz :

Peginning at a tree staging on the bank of the westerly side of <-Hcer Creek, so called, which is the south-easterly, corner of V^'oy- bridgo, and from thence running Avest by Woybridge, about four miles and one-half mile, or until it tneets with a township lately granted by the name of Addison ; thence beginning at the first bouuds and ruuiiing up the Greek aforesaid southerly till it comes opposite to the south-west corner of Salisbury, thence turning o{f and running west about four miles, or till it intersects the easterly side-line of Lridijort, a town also latelv ;:ranted. and is to contain the land between the said towns of Addison and Bridport and Otter Creek aforesaid, and that the same be and hereby is incorporated into a tcwns'iip by the name of Cornwall ; and the inhabitants that do, or may hereafter inhabit the said township, are hereby declared to be enfranchised with and entitled to all and every the privileges and immunities that other towns within our Province by lav,- exercise and enjoy : and fuilher, that the said itmn, as soon as

2-1 IiISTOr.Y OF CORlNlVALL. i ]

there shall be fifly families resident and settled therein, shall have f il

the liberty of ho'ding t^'o fairs, one of vrhich shall be- held on the U

and the other on the annually. v,-)iich fairs are not o

to continue logger than the respective following the said 1 \

and that ag soon as the said town shall coiisist of fifty fam- \ ;

ilieSj a market niay be opened and kept one or more days each | \

yfeek. as may be thought most advantageous to the inhabitants. '- I

AlcOj that the first meeting for the choice of town ofncers, agreeable ' i

to the lavs of said Province, shall be held on the first Wednesday ' !

of January next, ivhich said meeting shall be notified by Elins Reed ; ; j

•v^ho is hereby also appointed the Moderator of said first meeting, . }

■which he is to notify and govern agreeable to the laws and customs ;" !

of our said Province ; and that the annual meetings forever hereaf- t :

ter, for the choice uf such officers for the said to-nn, shall be on the i- 1

second Tuesday of March, annually. \i

Tu HAVE AXD TO HOLD the said tract of land as above express- ^5

ed, together with all privileges and appurtenances, to them and \]

their respective heirs and assigns forever, upon the following con- h

ditions, viz : P

I. That every Grantee, his heirs and assigns, shall plant and y cultivate five acres of land within ths*the term of five years, for '.^ every fifty acres contained in his cr their share, or proportion of ^ land in said township, and continue to improve and vscttlc the same i by additional cultivations, on penalty of the forfeiture of his Grant *^ or share in the said township, and of its reverting to us, our heirs J and successors, to be by us or them regranted to such of our sub- \ jects as shall efFectually settle and cultivate the s;ime. 'j

II. That all white and other pine trees within the said township, f fit for masting our royal navy, be carefully preserved for that use, ^ and none to be cut without our special license for 'so doing first had j and obtained. up'>ii the penalty of the forfeiture of the ri^^ht of such < Grantee, his heirs and assigns, to us. our heirs and successors, as ^ j- well as being subject to the penalty of any act. or acts of Purlia- * ment that now are. or hereafter shall be enacted.

III. That lofore any division of the land shall be made to any

( HISTORY OF CORNWALL. 25

f

S

hi raiong tne Grantees, a tract of lain! ri3 near the centre of the srud l| rownsbip as the land will admit of, shall bo reserved and marked [| out for town lots, cue of which shall be :>l]ottcd to each Grantee, of the contents of one acre.

IV. Yielding and paying therefor to us, our heirs and successors for the space of ten years, to be computed from the date hereof, the , rent of one ear of Indian corn only, on the t\Yenty- fifth day of * December, annuall}'. if lav^-fally demanded, tlie frst payment to be 1^ made on the twenty-fifth day of December, 17G1 . i Y. Every proprietor, settler or inhabitant, shall yield and pay I unto US; our heirs and successors yearly, and every year forever, from a.nd after the expiration of ten years from the above said twenty-fifth day of December, namely, on the twenty fifth of De- l cember. which will be in the year of our Lord, 1771, one shilling Proclamation money for every hundred acres he so owns, settles or I possesses, and so in proportion for a greater or lesser tract of the said land ; which money shall be paid by the respective persons abovesaid; their heirs or assigns, in our Council Chamber in Portsmouth, or to such officer or officers as shall be appointed to receive the same : and this to be in lieu of all other rents and services whatsoever.

T.'i testimony vrhercof we have caused the seal of our sai'l Province to he hereunto affixed Witnc?s Beiininj: Wentvrorth, Esq., our Ciuvernor and C"mmander- iu-Chief of our ^.lid Province, the third day of November, in the yo-irof our Ixird Christ, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-one, nnJ in the second year of our reign.